THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ON STATUS OF KARABAKH
KarabakhOpen
06-12-2007 11:35:07
A highly responsible and crucial stage of the talks on the settlement
of the Karabakh issue has started now, said the chair of the National
Assembly Committee of External Relations Vahram Atanesyan in an
interview with Karabakh-Open.com.
Vahram Atanesyan thinks the notable thing about the recent meeting
of the OSCE foreign ministers in Madrid was the participation of the
foreign ministers of Russia, France and the U.S. assistant secretary of
state, which is evidence to the importance of this stage. "It should
be noted that some time before the meeting first the president of
Armenia than the president of Azerbaijan visited Paris, and there is
information that the settlement of the Karabakh issue was discussed in
the meeting with the French president. I think not just the issue but
the current stage and the perspectives of settlement were discussed
in those meetings, since the current methodology of the talks has
replaced the principles of Paris on which the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan had seemingly reached agreement. However, Heidar Aliyev’s
death and the election of Ilham Aliyev modified these principles. I
think the principles that the parties currently offer to the sides
differ essentially from the ones worked out with France, i.e. with
the EU. Considering the recent statements by the EU’s representative
for the South Caucasus and the recommendations of the ICG report to
the European community, the talks on Karabakh have reached a crucial
point," said the chair of the committee of external relations.
Depending on the political boldness of the sides, their readiness
for compromise, this crucial period may transform into agreement on
the main issues of settlement, which may cause tensions to escalate
in the area of the conflict, Vahram Atanesyan thinks.
He says there is nothing strange about the statement of the Azerbaijani
defense minister on the probability of war. "Probability of war has
always been 100 percent. The problem is which party is inclined to
resolution through war. The approaches toward this are opposed, and
unfortunately the Azerbaijani side will try hard not to have agreement
reached. This is the current line of the Azerbaijani diplomacy,"
Vahram Atanesyan thinks.
He also takes the different interpretations of the proposals of the
mediators to the sides of the conflict for granted because "diplomacy
is when each side interprets the proposals to favor their interests."
Vahram Atanesyan thinks it follows from the statement of the foreign
minister of Azerbaijan in Madrid that only the status of Karabakh
has not been agreed although this is what the minister rejected.
"Judging by the opinions of political scientists, experts and analysts
that appear in the Azerbaijani newspapers, Azerbaijan tends to see the
future status of Karabakh within the borders of Soviet Azerbaijan. They
focus on internal self-determination, while the Armenian side views
self-determination in a different light. The situation is complicated
because Karabakh is unready to perceive this methodology of settlement,
and this is the reality. I think this methodology does not match the
moods of the Azerbaijani society," said Vahram Atanesyan and added
that in this situation escalation of tension is hardly possible.
With regard to the statements of the foreign minister of Russia that
the meeting in Madrid is a step towards progress, and the optimistic
statements of the OSCE Minsk Group Vahram Atanesyan said we should
acknowledge that as long as the public opinion in the countries opposes
to diplomatic efforts, the talks are questioned. "Unfortunately,
over the past 14 years there have been innumerable high-level
meetings, while the societies remained on the opposite sides of
the barricades. Meanwhile, the mediators should try to bring social
moods closer.
The proposals are balanced, include compromise, and the sides may
reach agreement on them. However, it should be backed by lasting
diplomatic, propagandist and other efforts aimed at conciliation of
the societies. If it succeeds, we can go on to consider a comprehensive
agreement and lasting peace," said the Karabakh parliament member.